This session addresses the reality of problems in marriage due to humanity's inherent sin nature, which inevitably causes pain even unintentionally. The speaker illustrates this through several biblical patriarchs, showing that even revered figures caused significant pain in their relationships:
• Abraham and Sarah: Abraham twice feared for his life and lied about Sarah being his sister, demoting her status and exposing her to danger. Sarah, in turn, blamed Abraham after suggesting he have a child with Hagar, demonstrating her own sin nature and the resulting pain.
• Isaac and Rebecca: Isaac repeated his father's sin by lying about Rebecca being his sister. Rebecca then actively deceived Isaac, her husband, by using Jacob to steal Esau's blessing, causing Isaac "exceedingly" deep sorrow.
• Jacob and Leah: Leah experienced immense pain from being "unloved" by Jacob, her husband, who clearly preferred Rachel. She continually sought his love through bearing children, only to remain unloved. Later, Leah "bought" Jacob's attention with mandrakes, highlighting the destructive cycle of pain and sin.
• David and Bathsheba: King David committed adultery and then orchestrated Uriah's murder to cover his sin, showing unfaithfulness. Bathsheba, in turn, manipulated David's will to ensure Solomon became king.
These examples demonstrate the universality of sin and its painful consequences in marriage. The central question becomes: "What do you do when that happens?". The answer is forgiveness. The speaker references Matthew 18:21-22, where Peter asks if he should forgive his brother "up to seven times," to which Jesus responds, "70 times 7". He clarifies this with Luke 17:3-5, where Jesus instructs to forgive "seven times a day" if they repent. This immense number of times, potentially thousands over years, signifies that this kind of forgiveness requires faith, not just love, because it's believing it's possible through God. Crucially, Colossians 3:13 states, "forgiving one another... even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do". The speaker highlights that Christ often initiated forgiveness without being asked. Examples include:
• Jesus on the cross saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do," even when no one sought forgiveness.
• Jesus telling the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven," without the man asking.
• Jesus forgiving the sinful woman who anointed his feet, declaring, "Your sins are forgiven," when she did not explicitly ask for it.
This initiation of forgiveness, even without contrition from the other party, frees both the giver and the receiver. While sin causes deep pain, choosing to initiate forgiveness, extending kindness through the Holy Spirit and faith (even faith like a mustard seed, having the substance of life), leads to blessings, growth, wholeness, and healing in marriage. It reflects Christ's unlimited forgiveness for us, urging us to extend that same grace to our spouses.
